The Brainy Moms

Wondering about homeschool freedom and flexibility? And how homeschooling might be a fit for your family? On this episode of The Brainy Moms Podcast, Dr. Amy and Sandy talk with Cheryl Daley, author, speaker, and host of the popular Homeschool How To podcast, to trace the exact chain of events that took her from a six-figure New York State government career to building a homeschool life rooted in freedom, relationships, and real-world learning.

Cheryl shares why she treated homeschooling like a research project, interviewing more than 120 families to test assumptions about socialization, academics, and what kids “miss” when they don’t follow a standard school track. We talk about deschooling, child-led learning, and the mindset shift from checking boxes to teaching kids how to learn. If you’ve ever worried about prom, sports, or whether you’re doing “enough,” you’ll hear practical ways families create options without copying school at home.

We also dig into reading and literacy through the lens of the science of reading: why phonics fell out of favor, how balanced literacy failed too many kids, and what structured literacy gets right. Plus, we explore the trade-offs of digital textbooks, handwriting, and online learning tools, including how “smart” programs can still be gamed when a child is focused on time instead of mastery.

If you’re curious about homeschooling, curriculum overwhelm, or how to start simply with read-alouds, nature walks, and meaningful projects, this conversation will steady your next step. Even if you're a seasoned homeschooler, the conversation should resonate with you in validating ways. Subscribe, share this with a parent who’s on the fence, and leave a review so more families can find it.
ABOUT US:
The Brainy Moms is a parenting podcast hosted by cognitive psychologist Dr. Amy Moore and Sandy Zamalis. Dr. Amy and Sandy have conversations with experts in parenting, child development, education, homeschooling, psychology, mental health, and neuroscience. Listeners leave with tips and advice for helping parents and kids thrive. If you love us, add us to your playlist and follow us on social media! 
CONNECT WITH US:
Website: www.TheBrainyMoms.com
Email: BrainyMoms@gmail.com
Social Media: @TheBrainyMoms
Subscribe to our free monthly newsletter
Visit our sponsor's website: www.LearningRx.com

In an AI world, a robot can anticipate your needs, clean your house, and do your job. It sounds like science fiction until you realize how fast AI is already reshaping the world as we know it. That speed of change forces a tough question for parents and educators: are we preparing kids to think, create, and lead when the world as we know it no longer exists?

On this episode of The Brainy Moms Podcast, Dr. Amy and Sandy have a brave conversation with author and Imagination Project founder Wylde Scott to make the case that imagination is not fluff. Instead, it is a critical and trainable skill that powers creativity, problem solving, resilience, and agency. We unpack why the industrial education model gravitates toward rote learning, standardization, and test prep, and why scaffolding can collapse when college is no longer a guaranteed bridge to stability. We also wrestle with the double edge of AI tools: they can unlock incredible creative work, but they also replace tasks that used to be someone’s job. And who is in control? 

You will hear practical ideas for building “creator” habits early, especially in the five to ten window when mental frameworks stick: project based learning, safe spaces to try and fail repeatedly, and daily experiences that strengthen independence without losing human connection. We also discuss technology in classrooms, engagement problems teachers face, and why apprenticeships and mentorship may become a more direct path than the default college pipeline.

If this conversation challenges your assumptions about how fast AI is changing our world, share it with a parent or teacher, then subscribe, leave a review, and tell us what you are changing first at home or in your classroom.
ABOUT US:
The Brainy Moms is a parenting podcast hosted by cognitive psychologist Dr. Amy Moore and Sandy Zamalis. Dr. Amy and Sandy have conversations with experts in parenting, child development, education, homeschooling, psychology, mental health, and neuroscience. Listeners leave with tips and advice for helping parents and kids thrive. If you love us, add us to your playlist and follow us on social media! 
CONNECT WITH US:
Website: www.TheBrainyMoms.com
Email: BrainyMoms@gmail.com
Social Media: @TheBrainyMoms
Subscribe to our free monthly newsletter
Visit our sponsor's website: www.LearningRx.com

The truth is, there are moms way worse than you! And the fastest way to feel like a better parent might be a laugh you did not expect. On this episode of The Brainy Moms Podcast. Dr. Amy and Sandy talk with Glenn Boozan, an Emmy-nominated, WGA award-winning comedy writer and the author of the New York Times bestselling gift book There Are Moms Way Worse Than You, to talk about why modern parenting can feel like a constant test you can never pass, even when you are pouring your whole heart into your kids.

Glenn explains how a simple joke for her sister during the pandemic turned into a wildly popular, science fact-checked, rhyming reminder that perfection is not the goal. We dig into the mom guilt spiral, why shame keeps parents stuck in their heads, and how humor can loosen that grip long enough for you to breathe and reconnect. Glenn shares some of the most unbelievable animal parenting facts in the book, the kind that instantly reset your perspective and make your own messy day feel a lot more survivable.

We  go behind the scenes on comedy writing: what joke punch-up really is, how writers learn to capture someone else’s “voice,” and why a well-timed laugh can feel like a turning point after a hard moment. If you are tired of chasing perfect parenting standards, overwhelmed by nonstop advice, or just craving a kind, funny reality check, this conversation is for you. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs a lift, and leave a review so more parents can find the exhale.
ABOUT US:
The Brainy Moms is a parenting podcast hosted by cognitive psychologist Dr. Amy Moore and Sandy Zamalis. Dr. Amy and Sandy have conversations with experts in parenting, child development, education, homeschooling, psychology, mental health, and neuroscience. Listeners leave with tips and advice for helping parents and kids thrive. If you love us, add us to your playlist and follow us on social media! 
CONNECT WITH US:
Website: www.TheBrainyMoms.com
Email: BrainyMoms@gmail.com
Social Media: @TheBrainyMoms
Subscribe to our free monthly newsletter
Visit our sponsor's website: www.LearningRx.com

Your child isn’t a “grade level” they’re a whole person, and the fastest way to lose motivation is to teach them like they’re interchangeable. On this episode of The Brainy Moms Podcast, Dr. Amy and Sandy sit down with Jessica Parnell, CEO of Edovate Learning Corp, to get practical about personalized learning for homeschooling, online school, and hybrid models that actually respect how kids’ brains develop. If you’ve ever felt pressure to recreate a traditional classroom at home, this conversation gives you a cleaner, calmer path forward.

Jessica breaks down a key distinction: individualized learning starts with where a student is academically, while personalized education also accounts for personality, interests, and future goals. We talk through the planning process, including assessments that uncover an ideal learning environment and the “point of first failure” that often explains why a subject suddenly falls apart. We also connect the dots to neuroscience, including how repeated struggle can become a self-fulfilling identity and how small, targeted wins can rebuild confidence.

We go beyond theory with real examples, including a student who went from spiraling in ninth grade to being celebrated for his art in Florence, Italy. We also dig into common parent concerns: meeting homeschool graduation requirements, avoiding over-scheduling, building independent learners through inquiry, and using “responsible online” learning that keeps younger kids moving and engaged. Finally, we look ahead at the homeschool landscape, micro-schools, and how AI can support personalization without replacing essential skills like writing in a child’s own voice.

If this helped you rethink what school can look like, subscribe, share this with a friend who’s on the fence, and leave a quick review so more families can find the support they need.
ABOUT US:
The Brainy Moms is a parenting podcast hosted by cognitive psychologist Dr. Amy Moore and Sandy Zamalis. Dr. Amy and Sandy have conversations with experts in parenting, child development, education, homeschooling, psychology, mental health, and neuroscience. Listeners leave with tips and advice for helping parents and kids thrive. If you love us, add us to your playlist and follow us on social media! 
CONNECT WITH US:
Website: www.TheBrainyMoms.com
Email: BrainyMoms@gmail.com
Social Media: @TheBrainyMoms
Subscribe to our free monthly newsletter
Visit our sponsor's website: www.LearningRx.com

Many parents are told to “just deschool and do nothing” after pulling their kids out of traditional school—but with middle school and high schoolers, that advice often backfires.
In this conversation with former middle school teacher turned homeschooling mom Janae Daniels, host of the School to Homeschool podcast, we talk about why older kids struggle most with doing “nothing” and why their brains crave structure after years in the system. Janae shares how her family—and the families she coaches—use simple academic guardrails in reading, writing, and math as a bridge into homeschooling.
You’ll hear why teens often say “I don’t want to do anything… but I need to do something,” and how moving toward an eclectic unschooler approach can honor both their need for routine and their growing independence. We explore what eclectic unschooling looks like in real life: mixing a few structured subjects with child-led learning, embracing boredom as a spark for curiosity, and using tools like strewing and a rich home environment as “teachers.”
If you’re pulling an older child out of school—or considering it—this episode will help you decide which subjects need guardrails, what can truly wait, and how to transition toward a more eclectic, interest-driven homeschool without losing your teen in the process.
If this episode of The Brainy Moms Podcast with Dr. Amy Moore and Sandy Zamalis helps, subscribe, share it with a friend who’s considering homeschooling a teen, and leave a quick review so more parents can find us. What’s the biggest fear or hope you have about homeschooling a teen?
ABOUT US:
The Brainy Moms is a parenting podcast hosted by cognitive psychologist Dr. Amy Moore and Sandy Zamalis. Dr. Amy and Sandy have conversations with experts in parenting, child development, education, homeschooling, psychology, mental health, and neuroscience. Listeners leave with tips and advice for helping parents and kids thrive. If you love us, add us to your playlist and follow us on social media! 
CONNECT WITH US:
Website: www.TheBrainyMoms.com
Email: BrainyMoms@gmail.com
Social Media: @TheBrainyMoms
Subscribe to our free monthly newsletter
Visit our sponsor's website: www.LearningRx.com